Sociology
Social & Behavioral SciencesSociology uses behavioral research methods to answer fundamental questions about why and how groups of people behave the way they do; from work to school to relationships with others. How social forces like culture, the economy, and social inequality are focal points of the major.
View Transfer Options, Degrees & CertificatesSociology provides an excellent foundation for work in a wide variety of fields in public and social service, law, research, health, and nearly every industry. Sociology emphasizes hidden and overlooked elements of human collective behaviors, from the most mundane social habits to world-changing protest movements. Social theories and research assists our understanding of behaviors that many casually notice but do not deeply observe, yet sociologists strive to understand and describe hidden structures that encourage some actions and prohibit others.
Program Length
Four semesters with 12 units per semester.
Transfer Options
Students commonly transfer to local universities to complete their undergraduate work in sociology, including UC Irvine, UC Los Angeles, CSU Fullerton, and CSU Long Beach.
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Transfer Options, Degrees and/or Certificates
Sample Academic Plans
- This is only a sample academic plan. Some CSU majors may have additional required or recommended courses for transfer. Please see a counselor to create a customized My Academic Plan (MAP) that will best meet your specific academic goals.
| Course | Title | CSU GE Area/Major | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| WR 1 | College Writing 1 | A2 | 4 |
| PSYC 10* | Statistical Methods in the Behavioral Sciences | B4 | 3 |
| SOC 1/1H or SOC 2 | Introduction to Sociology or Social Problems | D & Major | 3 |
| COMM 1 | Communication Fundamentals | A1 | 3 |
| Learning & Self Dev | Lifelong Learning and Self Development GE Course | E | 3 |
| Course | Title | CSU GE Area/Major | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | Critical Thinking GE Course | A3 | 3-4 |
| SOC 20 | Ethnic and Minority Group Relations | D & Major | 3 |
| Arts | Arts GE Course | C1 | 3 |
| GS 10 or GS 20 | Introduction to Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies or Gender and Contemporary Society | Major | 3 |
| Transfer Elective | CSU Transferable Elective (Courses 1-199) | 2-3 |
| Course | Title | CSU GE Area/Major | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| SOC 10 or SOC 30 | Introduction to Marriage and Family or Social Psychology | Major | 3 |
| Social Justice Major | Social Justice Studies AA-T Major Course from Areas 2, 3 or 5 | Major | 3 |
| HIST 20 or HIST 21 | American History Course | C2 | 3 |
| Physical Science | Physical Science GE Course | B1 | 3 |
| Science Lab | Physical Science Lab | B3 | 1 |
| Transfer Elective | CSU Transferable Elective (Courses 1-199) | 1-3 |
| Course | Title | CSU GE Area/Major | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| PS 1 | American Government | D & Major | 3 |
| SOC 19 | Sociology of Sex and Gender (Spring Only) | Major | 3 |
| Foreign Language | Chinese, Japanese, French, Sign Launguage or Spanish | C2 | 4-5 |
| Life Science | Life Science GE Course | B2 | 3 |
| Transfer Elective | CSU Transferable Elective (Courses 1-199) | 3 |
- Students can take PSYC 10 or another math course that meets the CSU transfer math requirement in CSU GE Area B4; however, PSYC 10 is recommended.
*Students may be eligible for one or more AA/AS/AA-T/AS-T degrees if they complete a GE transfer pattern, have specific courses, and have 60 transferable units. Please see a counselor for degree options and advisement.
- This is only a sample academic plan. Some UC majors may have additional required or recommended courses for transfer. Please see a counselor to create a customized My Academic Plan (MAP) that will best meet your specific academic goals.
| Course | Title | IGETC Area/Major | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| WR 1 | College Writing 1 | 1A | 4 |
| PSYC 10* | Statistical Methods in the Behavioral Sciences | 2A & Major | 3 |
| SOC 1 or 1H | Introduction to Sociology or Honors | 4 & Major | 3 |
| COMM 1 | Communication Fundamentals | 1C | 3 |
| Arts | Arts GE Course | 3A | 3 |
| Course | Title | IGETC Area/Major | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| WR 2 | College Writing 2 - Critical Thinking | 1B | 4 |
| SOC 2 | Social Problems | 4 & Major | 3 |
| PHIL 2 or PS 5 | Introduction Ethics or Political Philosophy | 3B | 3 |
| ANTH 1 | Physical Anthropology Course | 5B | 3 |
| ANTH 1 LAB | Physical Anthropology Lab Course | 5C | 1 |
| Course | Title | IGETC Area/Major | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| SOC 15 or SOC 30 | Socialization of the Child or Social Psychology | 4 | 3 |
| SOC 10 | Introduction to Marriage and Family | 4 | 3 |
| Arts or Humanities | Arts or Humanities GE Course | 3A or 3B | 3 |
| ANTH 2 | Cultural Anthropology | 4 | 3 |
| History | Any UC Transfer History Course (Courses 1-99) | 3B or 4 | 3 |
| Course | Title | IGETC Area/Major | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| SOC 3 | Global Sociology: Change in the Modern World System | 4 | 3 |
| SOC 19 | The Sociology of Sex and Gender (Spring Only) | 4 | 3 |
| SOC 20 | Ethnic and Minority Group Relations | 4 | 3 |
| Physical Science | Physical Science GE Course | 5A | 3 |
| Transfer Elective | UC Transfer Elective (Courses 1-99) | 3 |
- Students can take PSYC 10 or another math course that meets the UC transfer math requirement for IGETC GE Area 2A; however, PSYC 10 is recommended.
- Note: This sample academic plan does not account for the Language Other than English requirement necessary to meet Full IGETC Certification.
- This is only a sample academic plan. Some CSU majors may have additional required or recommended courses for transfer. Please see a counselor to create a customized My Academic Plan (MAP) that will best meet your specific academic goals.
| Course | Title | CSU GE Area/Major | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| WR 1 | College Writing 1 | A2 | 4 |
| PSYC 10* | Statistical Methods in the Behavioral Sciences | B4 | 3 |
| SOC 1 or 1H | Introduction to Sociology or Honors | D & Major | 3 |
| Learning & Self Dev | Lifelong Learning and Self Development GE Course | E | 3 |
| Transfer Elective | CSU Transferable Elective (Courses 1-199) | 1-3 |
| Course | Title | CSU GE Area/Major | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | Critical Thinking GE Course | A3 | 3-4 |
| COMM 1 | Communication Fundamentals | A1 | 3 |
| SOC 2 | Social Problems | D & Major | 3 |
| Arts | Arts GE Course | C1 | 3 |
| Physical Science | Physical Science GE Course | B1 | 3 |
| Course | Title | CSU GE Area/Major | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| SOC 10, 19, 20 or 30 | Various Sociology Courses | Major | 3 |
| SOC 10, 19, 20 or 30 | Various Sociology Courses | Major | 3 |
| HIST 20 or HIST 21 | American History Through the Civil War or American History Since the Civil War | C2 or D | 3 |
| ANTH 1 | Physical Anthropology | B2 | 3 |
| ANTH 1 LAB | Physical Anthropology Lab | B3 | 1 |
| PHIL 2 or PS 5 | Introduction to Ethics or Political Philosophy | C2 | 3 |
| Course | Title | CSU GE Area/Major | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| SOC 3, 10, 15, 19, 20 or 30 | Various Sociology Courses | Major | 3 |
| PS 1 | American Government | D | 3 |
| Arts/Humanities | Arts or Humanities GE Course | C1 or C2 | 3 |
| History | Any CSU Transferable History Course (Courses 1-199) | C2 or D | 3 |
| Transfer Electives | CSU Transferable Electives (Courses 1-199) | 3 |
- Students can take PSYC 10 or another math course that meets the CSU transfer math requirement for CSU GE Area B4; however, PSYC 10 is recommended.
- This is only a sample academic plan. Please see a counselor and check IVC's catalog to create a customized My Academic Plan (MAP) that will best meet your specific academic goals.
| Course | Title | AA GE Area/Major | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| WR 1 | College Writing 1 | 1A | 4 |
| PSYC 10* | Statistical Methods in the Behavioral Sciences | 2 | 3 |
| SOC 1 or 1H | Introduction to Sociology or Honors | 4 & Major | 3 |
| ANTH 2 | Cultural Anthropology | 5 & Major | 3 |
| Lifelong Health** | Lifelong Health and Personal Development GE Course | 9 A/B/C | 3 |
| Course | Title | AA GE Area/Major | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| COMM 1 | Communication Fundamentals | 1B | 3 |
| Critical Thinking | Critical Thinking | 1C | 3-4 |
| SOC 3 | Global Sociology: Change in the Modern World System | 4 & Major | 3 |
| SOC 10 | Introduction to Marriage and Family | 4 &Major | 3 |
| Fine Arts | Fine Arts and Languages GE Course | 7 | 3-5 |
| Course | Title | AA GE Area/Major | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| SOC 2 | Social Problems | 4 & Major | 3 |
| SOC 15 | Socialization of the Child (Recommended Elective) | 4 | 3 |
| PHIL 2 or PS 5 | Introducation to Ethics or Political Philosophy | 6 | 3 |
| American Institutions | American Institutions GE Course | 8 | 3 |
| Lifelong Health** | Lifelong Health and Personal Development GE Course | 9 A/B/C | 2-3 |
| Course | Title | AA GE Area/Major | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| SOC 19 | The Sociology of Sex and Gender (Recommended Elective) | 4 | 3 |
| SOC 20 | Ethnic and Minority Group Relations | 4 & Major | 3 |
| ANTH 1 | Physical Anthropology | 3 | 3 |
| History | Any History Course | 4 | 3 |
| Elective | Degree Applicable Elective (Courses 1-299) | 3 |
- Students can take PSYC 10 or another math course that meets the AA GE math requirement for GE Area 2; however, PSYC 10 is recommended.
- Take one course from two different categories among GE areas 9A, 9B, and 9C. Please refer to the AA GE pattern for details.
*Students may be eligible for one or more AA/AS/AA-T/AS-T degrees if they complete a GE transfer pattern, have specific courses, and have 60 transferable units. Please see a counselor for degree options and advisement.
- AA = Associate of Arts
- AS = Associate of Science
- AA-T = Associate of Arts for Transfer
- AS-T = Associate of Science for Transfer
- COA = Certificate of Achievement
- COP = Certificate of Proficiency
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Not sure if Sociology is the right fit?
That's OK!
Begin with the Exploratory Interest Area and explore Sociology while still working toward your academic goals.
Or speak to one of IVC’s Academic Counselors to learn more about all of your options.
